Several months ago, Ready delivered a crushing blow, splitting the family apart as domestic-violence offenders are known to do: He told Amber and Brittany they had to move out, and both girls left, Castle and other friends said.

"He was such a horrible person," Castle said. "He was a scary person. He was short-tempered."

Ready had a history of ugly relationships, according to court records and a woman who said she fled Arizona in fear of Ready in 2003.

Court records show that a Scottsdale woman filed an order of protection against Ready in 2009 and that Ready responded with his own protection order against her.

Regina Madrigal, 30, reported that she and Ready lived in the same Mesa Drive apartment complex and that Ready "became obsessed" with her. He would sneak up on her, call her, spy on her and tell her he knew the color of underwear she had on, Madrigal said.

"He was always telling me about plans for killing people," she said. "He had lots of guns in the house. ... He always believed the government was conspiring."